Post 1

Assignment: To Try

Please join this comment area to share 
your commitment to try.

Dr. Sheldon has asked for all participants to share with the group what they are willing to try moving forward in their classes.

We spent a lot of time talking about team based learning. Here is a great resource: http://www.teambasedlearning.org/starting

 

Here is the feedback from a few folks moving forward in their current courses. 

Sent: Friday, January 17, 2014 4:10 PM
To: William Sheldon
Subject: My Commitment

Hello Dr. Sheldon,

Thanks so much for your class today.  As we were discussing at the end, I am new here and very interested in exploring new approaches to teaching computer programming.  The traditional lecture methods used when I was a student were not always ideal and in a field like computer programming (like many others) students really do learn best by doing not listening.

Although I do feel some amount of lecture is absolutely necessary, I would like to try reducing the amount of time I spend talking and increase the amount of time they spend doing.  So I'd like to try breaking up the class into several blocks each of which starts with me introducing a topic and then giving them a small programming assignment to reinforce their understanding.

I am also very interested in the team approach you advocated.  Many of these students will work in large teams as programmers when they graduate.  I've seen the benefit of team learning in a business setting and would like to try incorporating that into the classroom as well.

I have one class with only 4 students.  I was considering breaking them up into teams of two and giving them the opportunity for some friendly competition working on projects.  However I could just make them into one team of four.  Any suggestions?

Thanks and have a terrific weekend,

John

--

John Sheehan

Instructor of Computer Science

SUNY Ulster 

Dr. Sheldon's response:

Great job getting back to me so quickly, John. I think with your teams I would actually do both. If you give and out of class assignment each time, before of them can talk about and compare the different solutions when they come in each time. But, your idea of having to teams with some friendly competition to work on projects is also a great one. I would really do both. There are no strict rules – – there are some guidelines that I communicated but there is certainly the opportunity to experiment. Let me know how your team approach is going – – that sounds like a great class to experiment with it. Maybe post to our blog to communicate with everyone.

Sent: Wednesday, January 22, 2014 10:46 PM
To: William Sheldon
Subject: Earlier message

Good Morning Dr. Sheldon,

Based upon the course work of last Friday, I learned many interesting ways to engage students in the learning experience.  I had been aware of the methods of getting students engaged from prior workshops and I had even used some methods in the past.

However, I learned that this is a better way to approach teaching.

Secondly, I am thinking of ways to incorporate these methods into my courses in accounting at Rockland Community College this semester.  I plan to break the classes into groups that I create and to give the concept of "team quiz" a try.

I am looking forward to the semester and to the Feb. 7 and Mar. 7 classes from this consortium.

All the best,

Josie Coleman

--

Josephine Coleman

Business Department

SUNY Rockland

Dr. Sheldon's response:

It sounds like you are already engaged in some very interesting stuff in your accounting classes. As far as breaking them into "groups" I would suggest a couple of things:

1.        That you think of changing your thoughts and terminology from "groups" to "learning teams". And

2.       That you make them semester long teams that meet together almost every class to go over homework assignments and to solve problems in class that you present after, for instance, introducing a concept. Also, I would suggest that when they meet together for the 1^st 20 minutes to go over homework assignments that you walk around and look over their shoulders to make sure that they have the homework assignments done, and give some sorts of grade/incentive for them to complete out of class work.

I use the learning teams in my accounting classes very successfully in these are the nuances that I have found work. Also very important to "seed" teams with stronger and weaker students so that there are some leaders and "tutors" each team.

Sent: Thursday, January 23, 2014 4:04 PM
To: William Sheldon
Subject: Teaching and Learning Course

Thank you again for your time and effort in putting together the first in what is a very valuable series of workshops.

I wanted to respond to your closing prompt/reflection.

What did I learn -- I was very gratified to learn that there are talented, dedicated teacher/colleagues constantly improving, reflecting on their discipline as teachers.  Very galvanizing.  Thank you for creating an opportunity to experience that as a group.  

What am I willing to try -- starting with and articulating an inciting question (which mirrors classic theatre -- starting with an inciting event!) in the course and with each class meeting.

Maximizing team strategies - for reading discussion, lectures, etc.

I am engaged in a course I have taught in some form for almost twenty years.  I have been able to implement some of these strategies and this semester has been by far the most successful start.

Thanks and looking forward.

-- 
Sophia Skiles

Adjunct Faculty

Program in Theatre Arts
SUNY Ulster

Dr. Sheldon's response:

I am engaged in a course I have taught in some form for almost twenty years.  I have been able to implement some of these strategies and this semester has been by far the most successful start.

Wow, Sophia!!  That is some very powerful feedback!!  It’s interesting that you are equating that approach with classic theatre.  It’s similar to what Nick Haines, as an English teacher, was saying in that it’s the same thing that happens in a good story in that blog post that is in the handout.  Wonderful!

As Hope suggested, it would be great, if you have a little time, to tell us some of the specific things that you are doing and how those went—a la’ Nick’s story or some of the ones in Bain…. I am sure they would be helpful and inspiring to others….

We look forward to hearing  your commitment and stories of ways in which the ideas of this seminar are working or not working for you.